GO Transit Shuts Down iOS App, Encourages Mobile Site Instead

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GO Transit Shuts Down iOS App, Encourages Mobile Site Instead

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For riders of GO Transit, the regional public transit service for the GTA and Hamilton Area, the company’s iOS app has been discontinued as of January 2, 2016.

Go Transit for iOS was developed with the Digital Media Zone at Ryerson University, first launched back in 2011, but deteriorated as it lacked updates to keep up with new iOS versions. The last update was October 2, 2012 and the app essentially acted as a time capsule for iOS 5 and iOS 6.

Metrolinx spokeswoman Anne Marie Aikins explained to The Star the app suffered from technical issues that could not be fixed without “significant” work. Instead, riders are now encouraged to visit gotransit.com on their mobile devices, as the site’s responsive design will adapt to all devices.

Aikins added “(The mobile site) does require behaviour change from people and we know that causes some angst. It’s new and they have to learn something different but it was designed for that purpose.”

Sounds like they don’t have a decent iOS developer on staff/contracted anymore (and, from the looks of the app, it’s been that way for over 3 years)… and so had no way to do what they should have done — just rewritten the app, which many other corporations do every few years.

Corrode

Do what Calgary did: rebrand Transit App!

kabsalsa

When the app came out I downloaded it but never adjusted to it as I had used and continue to use the GOToronto app. Thought I would mention this is anyone wants to try it.

FragilityG4

If it requires “significant work” why not do it??? Geez talk about being out of touch with your customers. It requires some work so instead of doing it we’re going to give up.

SG

Typical knuckle heads — they create a hybrid app / web site masquerading as an app — then they realize they should have written a native app in the first place. So instead of going native — they regress further and probably hired more monkey web developers to make their mobile site better. Losers! Hire 2 native developers (one for iOS and one for Android) and create an app that is actually useful!